NEC Certificates Winners Of The 2014 Special Senatorial Election January 5th, 2015

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has certificated 12 of the 15 Senators Elected during the December 20, 2014 Special Senatorial Election.

The certification ceremony took place Saturday, January 3, 2015, at the headquarters of the National Elections Commission in Monrovia.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Commission, Cllr. Jerome G. Korkoya, said The certificates issued to the senators elect is a testimony of the Power that was transferred to them by the people of Liberia when they went to the polls on December 20, 2014.

“The power that has been entrusted to you by the people comes with a great deal of expectation and responsibility. Expectation to change their living conditions by the laws you make and the programs you undertake. Responsibility in the sense that each passing day you need to be reminded that there are people out there who are counting on you to move their lives forward. You cannot afford to disappoint their trust, the NEC Boss said.”

Chairman Korkoya said the NEC acknowledges the low turnout during the election and will take the necessary measures to encourage higher voter participation in future elections.

“Recognizing the fact that legislative and by-elections are often marred by voter apathy, the Commission will begin to take the necessary actions to increase voter participation through the conduct of robust CVE activities across the country. To achieve this, the Commission intends to expand its civic education campaign nationwide and calls on government and partners to support this initiative,” Chairman Korkoya intimated.

For his part, the Vice President of Liberia, Joseph N. Boakai, expressed regrets over the deaths of some registered voters as a result of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in the country.

“I kindly asked you to remain on your feet and observed a moment of silence in memory of those who were registered voters who did not have the opportunity to vote; Ebola took their lives so we just want to remember them with silent prayer, The Vice President lamented .

Vice President Boakai then cautioned the newly elected Senators to become useful leaders in the new Legislature.

He also lauded Liberians as well as both winners and losers of the election for ensuring a peaceful election, adding that it was remarkable to see losers respectfully conceding defeat and remaining peaceful.

VP Boakai has at the same time expressed thanks and appreciation to the international community and other partners of the Government of Liberia (GOL) for standing by the country by and its citizens during this time of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in Liberia.

The NEC certificated all senators elect of the December 14, 2014 Special Senatorial Election except Cllr. Varney Sherman (UP) of Grand Cape Mount County, James Tornola (PUP) of Margibi County and Morris Saytuma (UP) of Bomi County.

They were not certificated due to a Supreme Court Stay order arising from a writ of Prohibition filed against them aggrieved contestants of the election.